International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) ISSN (Online): 2319-7064 Impact Factor (2012): 3.358 Nutritional Value of Four Common Edible Insects in Zambia 1 2 2 2 N Siulapwa , A Mwambungu , E Lungu , W Sichilima 1Copperbelt University, Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, P.O BOX 71191, Ndola, Zambia 2 Ndola College of Biomedical Sciences, Dept of Haematology and Blood Transfusion Ndola Central Hospital, Postal Agency, Ndola, Zambia. Abstract: Background and Objectives: Insects have played an important part in the history of human nutrition in Africa. The main objective of this research was to assess the nutritional value of four commonly edible insects in Zambia. The insects studied include the caterpillars (Gonimbrasia belina and Gynanisa maja), grasshopper (Ruspolia differens) and winged termites ( Macrotermes falciger). Materials and Methods: The proximate composition and minerals of the insects were determined using standard methods. One way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used in analysing the data. Results: The moisture content of the insects ranged from 4.1% ±0.3 to 9.2%±0.1. The highest amount of crude fat was found in Ruspolia differens with fat content of 49.0 % ±0.1 and the least amount was found in Gonimbrasia belina which had a mean fat content of 10.0 % ± 0.2. The difference in fat content among the insects was statistically significant with P<0.05. The highest amount of crude protein was found in Gonimbrasia belina with the protein content of 56.95 % ±0.03.There was no significance difference in protein content between the caterpillars, Gonimbrasia belina and Gynanisa maja P>0.05. However there was a significant difference in protein content between Gonimbrasia belina and the other two insects namely Ruspolia differens and Macrotermes falciger with the P-value <0.05. The insect richer in carbohydrates (32.8 %±0.7) was Macrotermes falciger, while the insect with a least value was Gonimbrasia belina with carbohydrate content of 7.8 % ±0.5. The highest amount of energy of 810.2 kcal/100g was recorded in Macrotermes falciger. The predominant amino acid was glutamic acid (4.35 ± 0.05 - 8.43 ± 0.16g/100g) while the least amino acid was cystein (0.11±0.02 - 0.13±0.05g/100g). Lysine was the most predominant essential amino acid in Gynanisa maja (4.02g/100g), Ruspolia differens (5.74g/100g) and Macrotermes falciger (3.72g/100g), while arginine was the most predominant in Gonimbrasia belina (4.57g/100g). The nutritional content of the insects was generally higher than that found in common meats such as beef and chicken meat and insects were generally cheaper than the common meats. Conclusions: The findings suggest that edible insects have the potential for exploitation to combat nutritional deficiencies that are of public health concern. The insects could form a base for new food products of considerable nutritive value. Keywords: Caterpillars, Termites, Grasshoppers, Crude fat, Crude protein, amino acids 1. Introduction Many species of insects have been used as human food in Zambia. Some of the more important groups include caterpillars, grasshoppers, winged termites as well as winged ants. Ordinarily insects are not used as emergency food during shortages, but are included as a planned part of the diet throughout the year or when seasonally available. Caterpillars, locally known as "vinkubala" or "ifishimu", are (1a) liked by many Zambians and during the breeding season (September to November), people in Northern Zambia in Mpika, Chinsali, Kasama, Mporokoso and Luwingu districts catch them from trees, particularly the Julbernadia panuculata, in the forest. After harvesting and curing, people usually send them to city markets on the Copperbelt, Lusaka and Livingstone where they fetch more money. In this way the traders are able to sustain their families thereby (1b) alleviating poverty and poor nutrition. Those people Figure 1: (1a) Gonimbrasia belina Figure (1b) Gynanisa involved in the practice are also able to take their children to maja school since "vinkubala" are their main economic activity. As food, Chavunduka [1] noted that in several areas of Zimbabwe, some families make a fairly good living from selling caterpillars. (1c) Volume 3 Issue 6, June 2014 www.ijsr.net Paper ID: 02014227 Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY 876 International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) ISSN (Online): 2319-7064 Impact Factor (2012): 3.358 (1f) Figure 1: (1e) Ruspolia differens Figure (1f) Macrotermes falciger The most commonly edible insects in Zambia are of three (1d) species, these include two species of Order Lepidoptera Figure 1: (1c) Dish of caterpillars Figure (1d) Harvesting (Gonimbrasia belina and Gynanisa maja, one species of caterpillars Order isoptera (Macrotermes falciger, and one species of Order Orthoptera (Ruspolia differens), and these are shown in Table 1. Table 2 shows the season when the insects are available, with caterpillars (Gonimbrasia belina and Gynanisa maja) being available between August and October while the Grasshoppers are available from March up to May. Macrotermes falciger are available during the rainy season from November up to January. Table 1 describes the nomenclature of scientific taxonomy, English and local names as well as consumption of metamorphosis stage of insects. (1e) Table 1: Commonly eaten insects in Zambia Order Family Scientific Name (Species) English Name Local Name Consumption Stage Lepidotera Saturniidae Gonimbrasia belina Caterpillar ‘’Mumpa’’ Larvae Lepidotera Saturniidae Gynanisa maja Caterpillar ‘’Chipumi’’ Larvae Soptera Termitidae Macrotermes falciger Termite ‘’Inswa’’ Winged adults Orthoptera Acridiae Ruspolia differens Grasshopper ‘’Nshonkonono’’ Adults Table 2: Year round Insects availability Insect Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Gonimbrasia belina XX X XXXX √√ √ XX Gynanisa maja XX X XXXX √√ √ XX Ruspolia differens XX √ √ √ X XXX X XX Macrotermes falciger √ X X XXXXXX X √√ √ Available X Not available In many developing countries and among various cultures the insects were determined as follows: The moisture scattered throughout the world, insects remain a vital and content was determined by using the oven drying method as preferred food and an essential source of protein, fat, described by Association of Official Analytical Chemists minerals and vitamins [2]. Some edible insects have (AOAC) [3]. The total ash was determined as described by nutritional value that can be compared with that of meat and Kirk et al. [4]. Fat content was determined using the fish, while others have higher proportion of proteins, fat and procedure of AOAC [3] and n-hexane as solvent. The crude energy value [2]. The main objective of this study was to protein content was determined using macro kjeldahl determine some of the nutrient composition of commonly method as reported by Kirk et al. [4]. The gram nitrogen eaten insects in Zambia. obtained was multiplied by 6.25 to obtain the crude protein content. The method described by AOAC [5] was used for 2. Materials and Methods mineral analysis. Four types of insects were taken for analysis. These included Amino acid determination was carried out using amino acid two different types of caterpillars Gonimbrasia belina and analyser, TSM (Technicon Instruments Corporation, Dublin, Gynanisa Maja, one type of termite namely Macrotermes Ireland) as reported in Adeyeye and Afolabi [6]. 2g of each falciger and a grasshopper, Ruspolia differens.The insects sample was defatted with petroleum ether using soxhlet were bought from Masala market in Ndola district. These extractor. The defatted sample was re-dried and milled into insects were bought from three different sellers and each fine powder using porcelain pestle and mortar. 30mg sample 3 batch was taken for analysis. The proximate compositions of were weighed in to a glass ampoules to which 5cm of 6m Volume 3 Issue 6, June 2014 www.ijsr.net Paper ID: 02014227 Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY 877 International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) ISSN (Online): 2319-7064 Impact Factor (2012): 3.358 HCl and 5μmoles norcleucine were added. The ampoule were determined using Atomic Absorption were evacuated by passing nitrogen gas (to remove oxygen Spectrophotometer (AAS model SP9). All values were so as to avoid possible oxidation of some amino acids during expressed in mg/100g. The analytical procedures were done hydrolysis), sealed with Bunsen burner flame and hydrolyse in triplicate and the mean data recorded. The data were in an oven at 1100c for 24 hours. The ampoules were analyzed using SPSS version 16.00. The mean and standard cooled, broken at the tip and the content filtered. The filtrate error of means (SEM) of the triplicate analyses were was evaporated to dryness at 400c under vacuum in a rotary calculated. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) was evaporator. The residues were dissolved to 5μL (for acid and performed to determine significant differences between the neutral amino acids) or 10μL (for basic amino acid) with means (p< 005). The estimated price of caterpillars was acetate buffer, pH 2.2 and the solutions were dispensed in to obtained from oral interviews with local women who trade the cartridge of TMS. The chromatograms (amino acid the commodity at Ndola Main Masala market in May, 2014. peaks) obtained from automatic pen recorder correspond to The estimated cost of beef and chicken were the quantity of each amino acid resent. Quantification was determined by checking the prices in designated performed by comparing the peak area of each amino acid in butcheries across Ndola city and calculated the the sample to the area of the corresponding amino acid average price per kilogram. standard of the protein hydrolysate. The samples were ashed at 550ºC. The ash was boiled with 10ml of 20% 3. Results hydrochloric acid in a beaker and then filtered into a 100ml standard flask. This was made up to the mark with deionised The proximate and energy composition of the commonly water.